Chapter 9: City in Turmoil, Silent Coup, and the Decision to Flee to Chiang Mai
The late-night wind gusting through the shattered window was cold enough to make Amorn shiver, but the external chill was nothing compared to the icy grip on her heart. The young woman clutched the small form of the infant "Ar-Chin" in her arms even tighter. Her eyes scanned the narrow, dark concrete ledge before her, assessing the situation. The heavy footsteps and shouts in a foreign language from the corridor inside the special patient rooms she had just fled were drawing closer with each passing moment, forcing her to make a swift decision.
The old but durable leather bag she had found beside the infant had been hastily zipped and was now slung awkwardly crossbody over her shoulder. The valuables and the letter inside remained a mystery, but what was glaringly clear now was that this child was no ordinary baby and was in mortal danger.
"Let's go, Ar-Chin… we have to get out of here," she whispered to the infant, who stirred slightly in her arms but, strangely, remained fast asleep, as if oblivious to the chaos surrounding them. Amorn saw nothing unusual about him; he looked like any other newborn, fragile and in desperate need of protection.
Amorn took a deep breath, suppressing the fear surging in her chest, and then slowly, cautiously, stepped her trembling feet onto the narrow ledge. Parts of the ledge were cracked and littered with concrete debris and broken glass. She had to move slowly and silently. The moonlight that should have guided her way was obscured by smoke and the shadows of tall buildings, making every step fraught with risk.
The ledge extended a short distance before reaching the building's side fire escape. Parts of the steel structure were bent from earlier explosions, but it still looked sturdy enough to use. Amorn began to climb down, step by difficult step. The darkness and height made her movements slow and dangerous. The slung leather bag swung precariously, nearly causing her to lose her balance several times. With every step, she had to be careful not to slip or stumble, as that could mean her life and that of the little baby in her arms.
Sirens from outside the hospital wailed from all directions. It was no longer just the sound of ambulances or fire trucks, but the deafening, coordinated blare of countless police and military vehicles that assaulted her ears. Flashing red and blue lights from official vehicles sliced through the darkness, contrasting with the orange glow of flames that had begun to engulf parts of the hospital building. Several helicopters circled overhead, periodically casting down searchlights, creating an atmosphere akin to a civil war.
Upon reaching the lower floors of the building, Amorn had to hold her breath when she saw the chaos unfolding at the emergency exit behind the hospital. Soldiers in camouflage, heavily armed, were sternly maintaining control. Checkpoints had been set up, and some medical personnel attempting to flee were being chaotically detained. Amorn saw one of her fellow nurses being mercilessly dragged away by two soldiers merely for trying to run.
"What on earth is happening to our country…" Amorn felt a chill run through her entire body. She quickly ducked behind a large dumpster, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest. She dared not take Ar-Chin out that way. If the news she'd seen in her colleagues' Line group chat—that they were targeting infants—was true, taking Ar-Chin to face those soldiers was tantamount to sending him to his death!
She decided to change her route, heading towards the darkest and most deserted part of the hospital – the laundry department and the morgue located in the basement. She knew there was a secret tunnel there used for transporting bodies to ambulances outside, a route not many knew and which might not yet be under control. It was risky… but it was the only hope she had now.
The journey through the dark, damp basement was even more terrifying. Several times, she heard people moving or shouting nearby, forcing her to quickly find a hiding place, her heart in her throat. But fortunately, Ar-Chin remained peacefully asleep, not once crying or fussing to draw attention.
Finally, she reached the end of the secret tunnel. The steel door blocking it was unlocked. Amorn slowly pushed it open. Dim light from outside filtered in, revealing a narrow alley behind the hospital that connected to a small street. This area was still quiet, with no sign of soldiers or officials.
Amorn had successfully brought Ar-Chin out of the tunnel! She felt a wave of relief, but knew this was not the end of their escape. As she navigated her way to a main road with some light, she saw the full extent of Bangkok's nighttime chaos. Cars were abandoned haphazardly in the middle of the road. Some people were running for their lives; others stood in panicked groups, trying to get information from police officers who were struggling to control the situation.
She slipped into a convenience store with a shattered storefront and no staff inside to get some baby formula and clean drinking water. While she was selecting items, her eyes fell upon a small television the owner had left on. It was broadcasting a live feed from the Television Pool of Thailand for Special Affairs. But what appeared on screen was not a regular program, but several high-ranking military officers in full dress uniform, seated at a press conference table, with a large Royal Thai Army emblem as a backdrop. A news ticker scrolled urgent messages at the bottom of the screen.
The voice of a field reporter (who also appeared to be military personnel) announced in a sharp, authoritative tone: "…To all respected Thai citizens, due to 'terrorist incidents' occurring in several key areas across the Kingdom tonight, targeting medical facilities and various strategic locations—an act of extreme audacity and the gravest threat to national security—in order to maintain peace and order in the country and prevent the situation from escalating beyond control, the council of military commanders and the national police chief have found it absolutely necessary to take control of the country's administration, effective immediately. We hereby declare martial law throughout the Kingdom indefinitely…"
Amorn stared at the screen, her heart turning to ice! "A coup d'état!" Was this real? The terrorism they were citing… was it the incident at her hospital and others? And the military seizing power… how was it all connected?
The announcer continued reading the statement: "…We request all citizens to remain calm, not to believe any false rumors, and to fully cooperate with military and police officials in the performance of their duties. The Emergency Command Council, formed by military and police leaders, will expedite the investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible and will quickly restore the situation to normalcy. This is hereby announced for public information…"
The screen cut to international news reports detailing similar events unfolding in several capital cities worldwide—New York, London, Paris, Tokyo—showing chaotic scenes and military deployments in those countries. Foreign correspondents analyzed that this could be the largest global terrorist attack in history, or perhaps the beginning of an unforeseen new conflict!
Amorn looked at the news images, then at Ar-Chin's small face in her arms, overwhelmed with extreme confusion and fear. The entire world was on fire. And this little baby… how was he connected to all of this? Why did his parents leave so much wealth with him, as if they knew in advance what would happen?
A thought quickly flashed into her mind. Bangkok was no longer safe! The entire country… perhaps the entire world… was not safe! If they were truly hunting infants, as the rumors in the nurses' Line group suggested, hiding in the capital, filled with soldiers and checkpoints, was merely waiting to be caught.
Her hometown… a small village in a remote district of Chiang Mai province, was the only thing that came to mind. There… that might be the safest place for her and Ar-Chin right now. Even though the journey would be long and fraught with danger due to the declaration of martial law and strict travel controls, she had to risk it!
Amorn grabbed only a few essential items before quickly leaving the convenience store. She had to find a way out of Bangkok before it was too late, and before the military cordon completely sealed off all routes.